Us here in the Alberta Report bunker were rather amused when Prime Minister Steve Harper appointed a motley crew of partisan hacks and former has-beens to Canada's Senate.
It seems like only yesterday when PM Harper was promising, "Reform that will make the Senate more democratic. More accountable."
Nevertheless, hypocrisy and promise-breaking aside, it looks to us like one of Harper's appointments may be breaking the Senate's Code of Conflict rules.
Remember Doug Finley, the National Campaign Director for the Conservative Party? Harper appointed him Senator back in September 2009.
Senator Finley has said that he'll stay on as the Conservative Party's campaign director even after his appointment.
The Senate's Code of Conduct, Section 8, states, "a Senator shall not act or attempt to act in any way to further his or her private interests, or those of a family member, or to improperly further another person's or entity's private interests."
There's no doubt that the Conservatives are preparing for an election. Every two-bit party in Canada must be preparing at a time like this.
If Senator Finley's still the campaign director of the Conservatives, there's no doubt that he's "attempting to further a private entity's interests" (the Conservative Party's) while he's a Senator.
The Alberta Report Editorial Collective will file a complaint with the Senate Ethics Officer if we get 20 comments on this article...we promise.
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1 month ago
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5 Responses to "New Senator breaking Conflict of Interest Code?"Tsk, tsk, Senator Finley. That does seem like a pretty black-and-white breach.
Comment #2
Senator Mike Duffy might also be up for a complaint. I'm pretty sure he's used his Senatorial travel expenses to fly somewhere and then speak at Conservative events.
Go get 'em. That's a paddlin'.
Rather than file a complaint with the Senate Ethics Officer regarding Doug Finley, why not use your considerable talents to lobby for true Senate reform. Harper would love to bring in Senate reform, unfortunately he needs support in the Senate to do it. He appointed every Senator that was elected, and would dearly love to appoint more elected Senators.
Anyone can complain about other people's misdemeanors, but it takes work to bring about true reform. Count me in on any work required if you choose to work towards Senate reform. I'm on your side.
All the best,
Wendy S Beswick
Glen Robertson, On
(Alberta ex-pat)
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